Probably a later commission as Atkins was not present on Captain Cook's third voyage (1776-80), and works by the artist are not known before 1787. While Atkins was at sea between 1796 and 1804, he visited the east, perhaps on board the East Indiaman 'Poushorn', of which he exhibited a watercolour showing her passing the Bocca Tigris in 1804. The drawing is signed by artist.